Steve Blank, Salim Ismail and Mariana Mazzucato to Speak at the Waterloo Innovation Summit

WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - August 19, 2015) - Everyone is talking about innovation, but who is actually saying anything?

Top global thinkers in business, government and academia will have plenty to say about what it takes to build world-class innovation ecosystems when they convene at the Waterloo Innovation Summit this September 16-18.

More than a dozen international speakers, including Silicon Valley sage and entrepreneur Steve Blank, economist Mariana Mazzucato (author of the Entrepreneurial State), strategist and entrepreneur Salim Ismail, venture capitalist Ajay Royan and John Chen, CEO of BlackBerry, will join tech leaders, academics, scientists and policy makers for in-depth conversations on how to win in the global innovation economy.

Communitech and the University of Waterloo are teaming up to present a lively, frank and informed discussion that will explore factors that drive the world’s best innovation regions, from universities and governments making big bets on science, to the shifting roles of the public and private sectors, to what entrepreneurs really need -- and don’t need -- to succeed.

Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2015 through Friday, September 18, 2015.

Time: The event begins with a tour of Waterloo region's innovation ecosystem at noon on September 16. Additional schedule information is available on the event agenda.

Location: All events take place in Kitchener or Waterloo at the University of Waterloo, Communitech, the Centre for International Governance Innovation and the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts.

For details on how to join in the discussion, visit the Waterloo Innovation Summit website.

For media looking for more information, to interview participants, or register for the conference, please contact one of the contacts listed below.

Attention broadcasters: Waterloo and Communitech have facilities to provide broadcast quality audio and video feeds with a double-ender studio. Please contact us for more information.